Lighting Device Dichroic Optics Natural Light Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art lighting systems simulating natural light lose their spatial expansion effect when combined with secondary traditional lighting devices, as these devices cannot generate the necessary intensity and color contrasts, leading to glare and unnatural colorings.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device comprising a primary light source and dichroic separation optics generating highly collimated and diffuse light components with different angular distributions, along with secondary collimation optics that produce a weakly collimated light component, maintaining the natural lighting effect without glare or unnatural colorings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If secondary traditional lighting devices are added to increase illumination, then the overall lighting intensity is improved, but the spatial expansion effect and natural lighting perception are lost due to inability to generate proper intensity and color contrasts
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device segments the light into multiple components with different angular distributions and color temperatures. A first light component with lower CCT and narrow angular aperture simulates direct sunlight, while a second light component with higher CCT and wide angular aperture simulates diffuse sky light. This segmentation allows traditional secondary lighting to be added for increased illumination without compromising the natural lighting perception, as each segment fulfills a specific role in recreating natural light characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different light characteristics within the same lighting system. The direct light component targets specific areas with high intensity and narrow angular distribution, while the diffuse light component provides ambient illumination with wide angular distribution. This allows different parts of the illuminated space to receive appropriately differentiated light quality, maintaining natural perception even when additional traditional lighting is added.
2Illumination intensity
If a lighting device generates highly collimated light component with lower CCT, then the direct light effect is improved, but the device complexity increases due to need for precise optical control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary optical element (such as a lens or reflector system) positioned between the light source and the illumination target to generate the highly collimated light component. This intermediary component simplifies the optical design by using a single dedicated element rather than requiring complex multi-element optical systems, thereby achieving the desired direct light effect with reduced overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively supports natural lighting systems by maintaining lighting efficiency and preventing glare, allowing for localized natural lighting without altering the perception of natural light, while being cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
dichroic separation optics configured to intercept at least part of the primary light generated by the primary light source and emit, from a first emission surface, at least one first highly collimated light component having a propagation direction, generated starting from the primary light
Implementation Method 2
The panel is illuminated by the light source and acts as a so-called chromatic diffuser or Rayleigh-like diffuser, i.e. it diffuses the incident light in a manner similar to the earth's atmosphere under clear sky conditions, thus separating the incident light into a first component of direct light that crosses the panel substantially without being diffused and a second component of light diffused by the panel
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device includes: a first optical unit and a second optical unit. The first optical unit includes a primary light source and dichroic separation optics. The primary light source is configured to emit primary light in the visible spectrum. The dichroic separation optics are configured to intercept at least part of the primary light generated by the primary light source and emit, from a first emission surface, at least one first highly collimated light component and at least one diffuse light component. The at least one first highly collimated light component and the at least one diffuse light component forms a light with chromatic components having different angular distributions. The second optical unit includes secondary collimation optics is configured to generate, from the light with chromatic component, a weakly collimated light component and a second highly collimated light component.